Aman paddy cultivation is facing a setback because of a drought-like situation in Naogaon district. The croplands have dried up and the vegetable lands are also damaged due to the absence of rainfall and scorching summer heat, farmers said. Aman growers and other farmers remain concerned over the inadequate rainfall that has led to a near-drought-like situation in the district. During a recent visit to the different paddy fields, all the paddy saplings, which were rowed in a month ago, were dying and the soil was dried up. The seedbeds were also damaged. Besides, the vegetable and other crop lands were all scorched. Kuddus Ali, a farmer of Sapahar Sadar headquarters, said farmers are passing an idle time and it is more difficult to step out of the house during the day due to the hot temperature. If this situation continues, then the production of Aman this season may become uncertain, he said. This can be interpreted as the possibility of missing their targeted production, that is set in cooperation with the local Dept of Agriculture Extension office. Read: Flashfloods damage crops worth Tk 127 crore in Kurigram Besides, the cost of irrigation using tube-wells is higher than the normal irrigation process, he said. Sirajul Islam, a farmer of Sadar upazila said, “I brought 2.5 bighas of land under paddy cultivation and within 15 days all paddy saplings were burnt with soil dried up. I will lose everything if there are no showers within a few days now.” Farhana Naznin, upazila agriculture officer, said this season is the time of cultivating Ropa Aman, and it is dependent on rainwater. A letter has been sent to the Barind Development authorities to take steps for irrigation. This year, a total of 1.92 lakh hectares of land have been brought under Ropa Aman cultivation. Nazrul Islam, an officer of Naogaon Badalgachhi Weather Observatory Center, noted with optimism that the rains may finally arrive now in a day or two.

Aman paddy and jute growers of Thakurgaon district have become worried due to drought-like situation for lack of rains which is hampering timely jute harvesting and Aman cultivation. Paddy, jute, maize, wheat and sugarcane are grown aplenty in the district due to its fertile soil. But this year, jute growers have been facing problem to rot and process the natural fibre due to lack of rains even during the monsoon. The jute growers are not harvesting their jute as there is lack of adequate water to rot it. Every year, they harvest jute and keep those under water for rotting in this season, said farmers. If jute is not harvested now Aman growers will not be able to cultivate Aman paddy on  the same land on time, which may lead to food crisis, they said. Aman farmers in the district mostly depend on rainwaters for cultivation. According to government data, there are no irrigation facilities in 50 percent of Aman land. According to the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), this year, a total of 1,465 hectares of land have been brought under jute cultivation this year which was 1,222 hectares last year. Besides, this year, the government has set a target to cultivate Aman paddy on 1,37,025 hectares of land with a target to produce 3,97,450 metric tonnes of paddy. Usually farmers cultivate Aman paddy from July 1 to July 31 but this year, the aman growers failed to prepare Aman seedbed even in the second week of July. Mafijul Islam, a farmer of Sadar upazila, said “Rains drenched the district in June. I have prepared my land for Aman cultivation but there is no sign of rains now.” Also read: 129 countries to see increased droughts within next few decades